Research shows that eating fish at least twice a week reduces the risk of heart attacks by more than 2%. The conclusions were drawn based on comparison with people who eat no fish at all, or eat only once a month. Why fish? Because fish, especially sea fish, are the main source of omega-50 fatty acids, very important for our health.
The benefits of consuming omega-3 fatty acids for our body are incalculable. They are a unique building block of our cells, they have a very positive effect on the functioning of many organs, including the heart and circulatory system. Omega-3 acids are designed to inhibit inflammatory processes in the body, they work very well on the blood coagulation system, they affect the proper functioning of the heart muscle, prevent the appearance of blood clots, and as it has been found in recent years – they prevent arrhythmia. Therefore, people with high levels of these acids in the blood die of a heart attack twice as often, and the risk of death due to cardiac cellular rhythm disorders is lower by 42 percent. compared to people who do not consume products containing omega-3 fatty acids.
Is there really a link between a proper diet and cardiovascular disease?
Many researchers say yes. The most frequently mentioned is the way of eating of the Eskimos, who rarely suffer from heart disease or have problems with the circulatory system. Their diet is particularly rich in fish and seafood. It contains large amounts of fats, proteins and trace amounts of cholesterol. On the other hand, we Europeans also eat a lot of fat and protein, and yet heart disease is a constant threat to us. The difference, however, is that in the food of our slant-eyed friends there are healthy fats of marine origin, mainly containing omega-3 fatty acids. Europeans consume 10 times less of these acids than Eskimos. It’s worth considering!
By eating the right amount of fish, we can protect our heart. This should ideally be two fish meals a day. For example, herring, salmon, hake, halibut, trout and cod have a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids. The motto of any diet is: the leaner you eat, the better. In the case of fish, it’s the other way around – the fatter the fish, the healthier it is.
Omega-3 acids, apart from fish, are found in shellfish, walnuts, almonds as well as in many vegetable oils, such as rapeseed, peanut or linseed oil. Unfortunately, these products are marginal in our diet. Let’s try to change it!